224COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF THE USE OF STEROIDS AND ANTIBIOTICS IN TREATING ACUTE EXTERNAL OTITIS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALIn a prospective randomized clinical trial, the efficacy of steroid-antibiotics and 10% Ichthammol glycerine packs in acute otitis externa was compared among 41 patients. Each quadrant received a 25% score until tragal tenderness and edema subsided on the day of presentation and subsequent visits. The average age of the patients was 23.5, with 21 females and 20 males. The 10% IG pack group had an average of 5.4 days, while the steroid–antibiotic group had 3.5 days. A statistically significant decrease in visits was observed in the steroid group. The pain score decreased significantly in the steroid–antibiotic group compared to the 10% IG pack. However, the edema score at the second visit did not show statistical significance, but it became significant at the fourth visit. The use of the steroid-antibiotic packing resulted in fewer visits, indicating better control of pain and edema, making it a logical choice for the treatment of acute otitis externa]]>622016Acute otitis externa, Steroid-antibiotic,10% Ichthammol glycerine packDr. P Prashanth Kumar,Dr Payal BhattacharyaAssistant Professor, Department of ENT, Great Eastern Medical School & Hospital, Ragolu, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India,Assistant Professor, Department of ENT, Great Eastern Medical School & Hospital, Ragolu, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India